Chris “Seacrest” Beytes is editor and publisher of GrowerTalks and Green Profit magazines. A former wholesale greenhouse owner, Chris now travels North America and the world for Ball Publishing, seeking out the latest news, trends and ideas. Although partial to hydrangeas, his favorite plant is Pedilanthus tithymaloides, which will probably never win a beauty contest.

After receiving his B.A. and B.S. from Michigan State University, Calvin worked at multiple garden centers and retailers before returning to Bordine Nursery. Those retailers include Crate&Barrel, Hicks Nurseries, Bachman’s, Country Market (now Stauffers) and NordicTrack. His family business is celebrating its 70th year in business and has 4 permanent retail locations and 3 seasonal stores around the metro Detroit area. In addition to retail, Bordine’s has a large growing facility (750,000 ft2 of greenhouse) with a state of the art propagation area. In addition to his professional life, Calvin has biked across the country, run a marathon and is the father of 6. Check out their video marketing on YouTube.

Justin W. Hancock is the senior garden editor for the Better Homes and Gardens web site, www.bhg.com, and a serious plant lover. He's been a gardener all his life and has worked on garden books, magazines, and web sites for the last fifteen years. He lives in Des Moines, Iowa (where he's also the co-owner of a retail garden center, Loki's Garden).

Katy spent 24 years developing the horticultural programs at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida. Before retiring, she was Director of Horticulture and Environmental Initiatives. She has served the American Horticultural Society as Board Chair as well as President/CEO. She is currently President Emerita of the American Horticultural Society. In addition, she serves on the Board of America in Bloom and travels America judging towns and cities for that program.

Joseph Hillenmeyer, the principle at Joseph Hillenmeyer+ Associates, is a ninth generation nurseryman. His family background in horticulture led him to work with the Don Shadow Nursery (TN) and time working with a nursery in New Zealand and an arboretum in Western Turkey. In 2001 Joseph opened his garden design firm in Lexington Kentucky affording him the opportunity to continue to travel the world studying Garden Design and Horticulture.